In General

Charleston, W. Va., City Code ch. 70, art. II, div. 2, subpt. I

in effect

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-51 Definitions.

Sec. 70-51. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Auto trailer means any building or structure used for living or sleeping purposes and equipped with wheels or other means to facilitate movement from place to place, and automobiles, when used for living or sleeping purposes. Auto trailer camp means any lot or parcel of land used or intended to be used for the accommodation of two or more auto trailers. Camp sewer means a sewer constructed in any auto trailer camp for the service of auto trailers and connected to the city sewer, or in case there is no city sewer in any street on which such auto trailer camp abuts, to a septic tank as required by section 118-74. Trailer unit means a plot of land in an auto trailer camp used or intended to be used for the accommodation of not more than one auto trailer and not more than one automobile which is not an auto trailer. (Code 1975, § 30-1)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-52 Violations and penalties.

Sec. 70-52. - Violations and penalties. Whoever violates or fails to comply with any provision of this division shall upon conviction be subject to the penalties provided in section 1-8; and each day during any portion of which a violation of this division is committed, continued or permitted shall constitute a separate offense. In addition, any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any of the provisions of this division shall be deemed a public nuisance, and may be summarily abated as such by the officers of the city. (Code 1975, § 30-22)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-53 Person in charge of auto trailer camp; camp office and register.

Sec. 70-53. - Person in charge of auto trailer camp; camp office and register. (a) The owner or operator of every auto trailer camp, before allowing any auto trailers in the camp, shall file with the chief of police and health commissioner the name of the person who will be in continuous responsible charge of the camp, and who is authorized to act for him. Any change in such person in charge shall be immediately reported to these officers. (b) In every auto trailer camp there shall be an office building in which shall be located the office of the person in charge of the camp. The camp register shall at all times be kept in the office. (Code 1975, § 30-10)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-54 Duties of owners and persons in charge of auto trailer camps.

Sec. 70-54. - Duties of owners and persons in charge of auto trailer camps. It shall be the duty of the owner, operator or person in charge of any auto trailer camp to: (1) Keep at all times a register of all persons staying in his camp, which register shall at all times be open to the officers of the city and which register shall record the names and home addresses of all persons staying in the auto trailer camp, the date of their arrival, date of their departure, the number of and state in which the driver's license of such person was issued, the license number of all auto trailers and automobiles in the camp, the name of the state or country in which they are registered, the trailer unit on which each is located and the place at which the last overnight stop was made; (2) Maintain the camp in a clean, orderly and sanitary condition at all times; (3) Allow no more than one auto trailer and one automobile on any one trailer unit at any one time; (4) Require that all such auto trailers and automobiles are located on their respective trailer units as required by the terms of this division; (5) Require all toilets in every auto trailer in the camp to be connected to the camp sewer or in case any toilet is so constructed that it cannot be so connected, to require it to be sealed so that it cannot be used during the total time it shall remain in the camp; (6) Require every sink and every lavatory in any auto trailer in the camp to be connected to the camp sewer during its entire stay in the camp; (7) See that all required lights are kept lighted as provided in this division; (8) See that all garbage is drained and wrapped as required by ordinance and deposited in the garbage cans required by section 70-56 and see that all such garbage cans are collected, cleaned and redistributed as required by that subsection; (9) Permit no domestic animal in the camp unless such animal is kept on a leash or is confined in an adequate enclosure; (10) Report promptly to the proper authorities any violations of law which may come to his attention; (11) See that no person overstays his legal limit of residence in the camp; and (12) Post in a waterproof holder in a conspicuous place in each trailer unit a copy of this section. (Code 1975, § 30-11)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-55 Auto trailer camp layout.

Sec. 70-55. - Auto trailer camp layout. (a) Every auto trailer camp shall have access to a public street either by abutting directly on such street or by means of a private road not less than ten feet wide. Along one side of such private road for its full length shall be a walkway not less than three feet wide and raised six inches above the roadway. Such roadway from the street line in and every road required by the terms of this division within any auto trailer camp shall be paved or constructed in a manner suitable to the city engineer. (b) Roadways not less than ten feet wide shall be provided in every auto trailer camp so located that each and every trailer unit shall have direct access thereto. (c) The entire area of every auto trailer camp, exclusive of roadways, well-maintained lawns and planted areas, shall be thoroughly graveled or paved. (d) Every auto trailer camp shall be surrounded on all sides, except those sides directly abutting on a public street, with a fence not less than six feet high constructed and maintained so as effectively to prevent the passage of persons. There shall be no opening or gate in such fence except with the written approval of the owner of the immediately adjoining land, which approval shall be filed with the health commissioner. (e) Each trailer unit in every auto trailer camp shall contain not less than 600 square feet of ground and shall not be less than 25 feet in minimum width measured at right angles to the side lines. The boundary lines of every trailer unit shall be plainly and permanently marked or otherwise indicated. (f) The setbacks established by the zoning ordinance shall apply equally to trailer units and to buildings of the same outside dimensions. (g) There shall be not less than five feet between any part of any auto trailer and any boundary line of the trailer unit on which it is located. (h) No automobiles or tow cars parked on any trailer unit shall extend beyond the boundaries of the unit. (Code 1975, § 30-12)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-56 Sanitation.

Sec. 70-56. - Sanitation. (a) On each trailer unit, there shall be a connection to a camp sewer arranged so that the sanitary fixtures in any auto trailer may be readily connected to the sewer. Immediately after being placed on a trailer unit, every auto trailer shall have all its sanitary fixtures connected to the sewer or sealed so that they cannot be used. Every such connection shall be by means of rigid pipe. Hose connections are not permissible. (b) On each trailer unit, there shall be an ample supply of water for the use of the occupants of the unit. There shall be two outlets on such service, both of which shall be adapted for hose connection. (c) In every auto trailer camp, there shall be provided not less than one public toilet for each sex for every ten trailer units or fraction thereof. In addition, there shall be one urinal for every ten trailer units. All toilet and urinal rooms shall have hard, smooth finished, cement floors and shall have walls plastered with Portland cement plaster with a polished steel trowel finish. All corners shall be rounded with a fillet of not less than one-half-inch radius. Walls and floors may be finished in nonabsorbent tile in lieu of the cement finish. (d) In every auto trailer camp, there shall be provided one bathtub or stall shower for each sex for every ten trailer units or fraction. All such baths shall be provided at all times with an ample supply of hot and cold water. Bathrooms shall be constructed as specified for toilet rooms in subsection (c) of this section. (e) In every auto trailer camp, there shall be provided not less than one double-compartment laundry tray and one lavatory for every ten trailer units; and all such fixtures shall be at all times provided with an ample supply of hot and cold water. All such fixtures shall be installed in rooms constructed as specified for toilet rooms in subsection (c) of this section. All bathrooms shall be supplied with adequate heating equipment maintained in proper operating condition. (f) In every auto trailer camp, there shall be provided not less than one sink and one slop sink for every ten trailer units; and such fixtures shall be supplied with an adequate supply of hot and cold water. (g) No trailer unit shall be more than 200 feet from any of the sanitary fixtures required by this section to serve the trailer unit. (h) Under and around every laundry tray, sink, lavatory and slop sink, there shall be a concrete or tile floor; and such floor shall extend three feet in all directions beyond such fixture. (i) Every trailer unit shall be provided with a substantial covered garbage can as required by ordinance for residences in the city. Such garbage can shall be kept on a concrete pavement not less than three feet square and four inches thick, with a smooth troweled top. In every auto trailer camp, all such garbage cans shall be collected at one convenient place prior to garbage collection time on each day on which garbage is collected in that district. Immediately after the garbage has been collected, all such cans shall be carefully cleaned and returned to their respective trailer units. (j) Every auto trailer camp shall be provided with a masonry incinerator, of a size suitable to handle the combustible wastes of the camp, and located as directed by the fire chief. (k) In every auto trailer camp where automobiles or trailers are washed or are to be washed, there shall be installed a wash rack; and no such washing shall be done except on such wash rack. All such wash racks shall be paved with a continuous concrete floor slab not less than 15 feet by 25 feet by four inches thick, and all parts shall slope toward a drain so connected as to dispose of all wastewater without nuisance or creation of an unsanitary condition. (Code 1975, § 30-13)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-57 Lights in public rooms.

Sec. 70-57. - Lights in public rooms. Every public toilet and every public urinal room shall be lighted from one-half hour after sunset of each day until one-half hour before sunrise of the succeeding day. Such lighting shall be provided in an amount not less than one-half watt per square foot of floor area in any such room. Every public bath, laundry tray, sink and slop sink shall be supplied with lights which may be turned on by the person using such room. (Code 1975, § 30-14)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-58 Electrical connections.

Sec. 70-58. - Electrical connections. (a) Every trailer unit shall be furnished with an electric service outlet which shall be equipped with an externally operated switch, a fuse of not less than 30 amperes' capacity, and a heavy-duty outlet receptacle. (b) All electrical work in every auto trailer camp shall comply in all respects with the requirements of the electrical code of the city. (Code 1975, § 30-15)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-59 Compliance with plumbing code.

Sec. 70-59. - Compliance with plumbing code. In every auto trailer camp all plumbing work shall comply with the requirements of the plumbing code of the city. (Code 1975, § 30-16)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-60 Compliance with building codes.

Sec. 70-60. - Compliance with building codes. In every auto trailer camp, all buildings and structures other than auto trailers shall comply with the city building code and the BOCA Basic Building Code. (Code 1975, § 30-17)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-61 Effect of zoning ordinance.

Sec. 70-61. - Effect of zoning ordinance. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prohibit the erection and maintenance in any auto trailer camp of any building or structure which is permissible under the terms of the zoning ordinance for the zone in which the auto trailer camp is located. (Code 1975, § 30-18)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-62 Fire protection.

Sec. 70-62. - Fire protection. (a) Every auto trailer camp shall be provided with one or more standpipes not less than 1½ inches in diameter, and such standpipes shall be provided with 1½-inch fire hose of such lengths that every part of such auto trailer camp may be reached with the hose, and each such hose shall be equipped with a standard nozzle. All such hose shall be kept on a reel or rack, protected from the weather, and shall be used for no purpose other than fire protection. (b) Every auto trailer camp shall be provided with not less than two acid and soda, 2½-gallon fire extinguishers located as directed by the fire chief. (Code 1975, § 30-19)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-63 Parking on street.

Sec. 70-63. - Parking on street. No auto trailer or other trailer as defined in section 114-1 shall be permitted to park on any street in the city overnight. (Code 1975, § 30-20)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 70-64 Storage of trailer on owner's premises.

Sec. 70-64. - Storage of trailer on owner's premises. Nothing in this division shall be deemed to prohibit the storage of any auto trailer on the home premises of its owner for any length of time when not used for living or sleeping purposes. (Code 1975, § 30-21)

Source: City of Charleston, West Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wv/charleston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH70MAHOTR_ARTIITRTRCA_DIV2AUTRCA_SDIINGEFetched: 11/7/2026